As we begin this series, we need to understand two important truths:
1) God has a plan.
“(God) makes everything work out according to his plan.” - Ephesians 1:11b (NLT)
“But God knew all this would happen. It was his plan - a plan he made long ago.” - Acts 2:23b (Easy to Read)
A man had a fool-proof plan for sneaking into a drive in movie without paying. He’d crawl into the trunk of his car, and his wife would pay for herself. Once inside, she’d let him out of the trunk. The plan sounded good, but it failed. He crawled into the trunk, and his wife drove into the theater just as planned. Only when she tried to release him, they realize a problem - the husband had the keys to the trunk in his pocket. After firemen cut through the trunk, the man was released, but neither he nor his wife saw the movie. Some plans may sound good, but they do not work. Even if this plan had worked, it could hardly be called good, for the intent was to deceive and enjoy a movie at another’s expense.
Well, God’s plan for creation is a good plan. It is good in a functional sense, because the plan is certain to work, producing the ends for which it was ordained; and but it is also good in the ultimate sense. What is God’s plan? God’s plan is to rule in loving relationship over His creation in such a way that demonstrates His glory.
This was God’s plan in creating the universe and setting up man as the head of the earthly sphere of His creation. But if god was going to have a love relationship with the human race, He had to allow the exercise free will, which is so doing, allowed us to choose our own way, thus introducing sin to the world. But God’s plan also included the solution to the sin problem - Christ (“the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made” - Revelation 13:8). God would come to us in the person of Christ, live a sinless life, and pay the price for the sins of the world. God would raise Christ from the dead and He would be exalted above all. Through Christ, forgiveness and salvation would be made available to all, and all who turned to Him would one day share eternity with their creator, who will rule in loving relationship over His creation in such a way that demonstrates His glory for all eternity. This, of course, will take place when eternity is ushered in, after having returned, Christ will rid this sinful world of Satan, Satan’s influence and Satan’s people.
In the outworking of God’s plan in human history, God’s will is often viewed in three aspects:
A) The sovereign will of God - The sovereign will of God is carried out directly by God. For example, creation came about by the sovereign
will of God; as did the incarnation (the virgin birth) of Christ, which made possible His sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection (which also came about by God’s sovereign will). The return of Christ will come at a time of the Father’s choosing and is yet another example of God’s sovereign will.
B) The permissive will of God - In carrying out His plan, God allows certain things which sometimes lead to things that aren’t part of His plan. God’s plan is to have a love relationship with the human race. For that to happen, man had to be allowed to make a choice, even though that choice led to sin and its consequences - suffering, death, disaster, injustice, etc. entering the world. Though God isn’t the author of sin, He allows sin to exist and withholds judgment to give more time for as many people as possible to repent and be saved.
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come. . .” - 2 Peter 3:9-10a (NLT)
C) The directive will of God - This is the will of God discerned through God’s Word and God’s workings in a person’s life. This is where human responsibility comes in. We must choose a personal relationship with God through faith in Christ and a growing in our
relationship with God, so we can participate in God’s plan. When it comes to God’s directive will, God has a part and so do we.
God’s part includes calling, convicting, illuminating, regenerating, leading, and working to enable us to accomplish His directive will.
Our part includes hearing and heeding His instruction.
2) Life has a purpose.
“He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life - a life set apart -
a life of purpose].” - 2 Timothy 1:9 (Amplified)
“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above - spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” - Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified)
Our lives have purpose because of our relationship with God, but it is only realized when we walk in God’s directive will. How we do that is the subject of this series. (READ TEXT)
We read here of four people to whom God’s working was revealed. And we see Luke emphasizing something about each one that enabled them to be in on what God was doing. Let’s see what we can learn. Luke emphasized the importance of the Word filled life through the example of Mary and Joseph (vs. 22-24; 39).
1. Mary and Joseph had gotten into the Word.
The fact that Joseph and Mary knew what they were to obey came about as a result of them getting into and acquainting themselves with the Word of God. Likewise, if we are going to be in position to be in on what God is doing, we must get into His Word.
“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” - Joshua 1:8 (NLT)
Notice that it is only after I have studied and meditated on God’s Word that I can obey it. I cannot obey what I do not know; and I cannot succeed in partnering with God if I do not obey.
2. Mary and Joseph got the Word into them.
In other words, they applied God’s Word to their lives through obeying what God had said! This is why we seek to get a grip on our Bible. We need to not only get into the Word, but we need to allow the Word to get into us through our application of it to our everyday lives.
Applying God’s Word through obedience . . .
A. Makes it clear that we belong to God.
“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.” - 1 John 2:3 (NIV)
B. Enables us to grow in our love relationship with God.
“But whoever habitually keeps His word and obeys His precepts [and treasures His message in its entirety], in him the love of God has truly been perfected [it is completed and has reached maturity].” - 1 John 2:5 (Amplified)
C. Allow us to point others to God.
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
D. Opens up our lives to the blessings of God.
“If you know these things, you are blessed [happy and favored by God] if you put them into practice [and faithfully do them].” - John 13:17 (Amplified)
3. The Word got Mary and Joseph in on what God was doing.
Because they obeyed the Word of God, Mary and Joseph were exactly where God wanted them to be - smack dab in the middle of what He was doing in their world - participating and partnering with God!
Conclusion:
“And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” - Hebrews 12:1b (NLT)
It’s important to see that when it comes to God’s plan for our lives, it is unique to each of as individuals, but it is similar in that God’s will for me relates to His plan for all of creation - to rule in loving relationship over my life that demonstrates His glory.
“You are supposed to run the race God has set for you. Not the race you set for yourself, not the race other people set for you, and not the race culture sets for you. You only run the race God has set for you. If you try to run any other course, you are going to fail and get
discouraged.” - Rick Warren
The key to being in on what God is doing, to knowing and doing His will, is to establish a personal relationship with God and then cultivate a growing love relationship with God; and obeying God’s Word is one way we do that, along with depending on God’s spirit and spending time in prayer, as we will see. This is why we are told to endure. Do you have a relationship with God? Is it a growing relationship?
